Shoe attachment for arch supports



y 193.5- 6. w. GRABB 2,000,591

SHOE ATTACHMENT FOR ARCH SUPPORTS Filed Dec. 30, 1931 INVENTOR. 3M:

ATTORNEY;

Patented May 7, 1935 umrrro me George W. Grabb,-,Sharpsburg, Pa, assignor of" one half.,to..Rees TLScully, Pittsburgh, Pa.

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rolaims (01. 36-71) support" for' the foot atthe instep;

There are many designsof' arch supportsflrr common useto day, enerally consisting" of a unitary structure composed" of i a curved plate of spring; metal; having. a; superimposed covering of leather, the whole conforming generally to the correct form of the arch or instep of the human foot.

Such supports are usually separable from the shoe and rely upon the construction of the shoe and the curvature of the foot to maintain them in proper position.

When inserted in the shoe, the rear portion of the support abuts or anchors at the rear of the shoe, and the forward portion thereof is freely movable on the shank or sole of said shoe. That is to say, the forward edge portion of the metal of said support is designed to slide or work along the leather sole of the shoe during the application and release of the weight of the user, as when walking.

It has been found that the arch support becomes inefiective and in some instances fractures or fails due to the constant wearing or digging of the forward edge portion into the leather sole of the shoe. The free end becomes so embedded in the leather as to prevent the free flexing of the support, rendering said support inoperative and discomforting to the user.

Also, the use of arch supports of the character herein referred to tends to deform or break down the arching curvature of the shank of the shoe and the side portion of the vamp adjacent the shank, particularly at the inner-side of the instep, because of the concentration of pressure in that region by the free end of said support.

My invention contemplates an attachment for use in connection with an arch support of the character described consisting of a member adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the sole portion of a shoe for receiving and sliding the free end of said support.

In addition, said member may be provided with an extended flanged portion for reinforcing the shoe, said flanged portion also operating to define the movement of the support.

Additional objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Thisunvention relates to-"improvements-iira Eig;hiseagdiagrammatic:outline;ofiashoein side"; ellrvationzshowings; the:v application; of my invention thereto.;;: 2, .a: cross: section on: the; line II.II- of. Her. ,ziand;

Eigs.=; 3;.4 and 5,. perspective views of various. formss of mwinvention:.. I q

,Referring to; the drawing, A designatesia shoe of welliknowniform;intoiwhiclrzhas. been insert ed an arch support 2 of the;;type;,hereinbefore; described, comprising a spring metal base memher 3 of the desired configuration and curvature and a leather covering or pad 4 secured to the top surface of said metal base. I

There is no rigid attachment between the support and the shoe, the rear end portion a of the support abutting at the rear wall 5 of the shoe, and the forward free end b of the metal base member has, prior to my invention, been freely slidable on the inner surface of the leather sole 6 or on the shank portion 7 thereof.

Designed for application to the shoe, I provide an attachment 8 consisting of a plate member, preferably formed of metal, as, for example, spring-brass or steel, and having openings 9 "therein for receiving holding screws or nails.

Said attachment or plate is designed to be applied to the sole or shank of the shoe in the I region of movement of the free sliding end 12 of the support 2 for receiving said end thereon.

The member 8 may be ofany desired configuration, depending upon the shape of the shoe. I have shown the same in the form of an irregular four-sided plate having one ,side' or edge thereofi inclined and curved upwardly to form a flange H], the height and curvatureof said flange preferably being greater at its rear portion than at its forward portion.

The flange I0 is designed to be positioned adjacent the inside wall or portion of the vamp II, as in Fig. 2, to prevent deformation of the vamp and sole or shank by the pressure of the free end b of the support 2 thereon, and also to limit or define any lateral movement of the arch support, thus preventing the cutting or breaking of the vamp by said support.

The surface of the attachment is preferably of an antifriction character, whereby to assist the free flexing of the support 2 thereon in any suitable manner. For example, its surface may be plated with a cadmium plating to provide a flange ID may be omitted and a modified form of attachment 8a employed, having an edge I2 thereof inclined to conform to the shape of the shoe. Or, if desired, a flat angular flange 10b may be struck up from a plate or attachment 8b as in Fig. 4, to give support to the vamp of some styles of shoes.

It will be apparent that my arch support attachment may be readily applied to a shoe and that when applied it will cooperate with the inserted arch support to render the same more efiicient in its action and highly beneficial to the user. In addition to the advantages mentioned, it will protect the shoe from wear and prolong the life of the arch support toua considerable degree.

Various forms and modifications are contemplated within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a shoe and a freely separable arch support having one endthereof abutting the rear wall of said shoe and the other end freely slidable therein, of an attachment therefor comprising a metal plate having an edge formed with an upturned flange and secured to the shoe immediately below the free end of the said support for receiving and sliding the same with the flange arranged adjacent a portion of the vamp.

2. The combination with a shoe and a freely separable arch support positioned therein and having a free slidable end, of an attachment for the shoe comprising a separable plate having a side edge formed with an upturned portion and secured to the shoe immediately below the free end of the arch support for receiving and sliding the same, said upturned portion having increasing height rearwardly of the plate.

3. The combination with a shoe and a freely separable arch support positioned therein and having a free slidable end, of an attachment for the-shoe comprising a separable plate having a side edge formed with an upwardly curved and inclined flange and secured to the shoe im-- mediately below the free end of the arch support for receiving and sliding the same, said flange having increasing height and curvature rearwardly of the plate.

4-. The combination with a shoe and a freely separable arch support having a freely slidable end, of an attachment for the shoe comprising an irregular four-sided plate having an edge formed with an upturned flange and secured to the shoe immediately below the free end of the said support for receiving and sliding the same with the flangearranged adjacent a portion of the vamp of the shoe, said flange having increasing height rearwardly of the plate.

GEORGE W. GRABB. 

